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Everton2 - 1Fulham

Schwarzer is given no chance as Coleman heads in the opening goal for Everton

By Mark Ashenden

Everton survived a nervy last half-hour to overcome Fulham and keep alive their slim hopes of a Europa Cup slot.

Leighton Baines tore the visitors open and Everton deservedly led when Seamus Coleman nodded in Leon Osman's cross.

Louis Saha's free-kick doubled the lead after the break but the Toffees were complacent and Clint Dempsey pulled a goal back with a strike from 25 yards.

Phil Jagielka almost headed Everton's third and they nearly paid for it but Bobby Zamora wasted a late chance.

The result means Fulham have now lost 18 successive league games at Goodison Park - they last claimed a point in this part of Merseyside in 1959.

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Player absence led to 'dull' game - Moyes

Fulham started the day hopeful of entering the top half of the table but, instead, this loss will have manager Mark Hughes fearing a relegation fight.

Opposite number David Moyes will be pleased to see his side move into eighth spot with a third league win in four games and a chance to close a nine-point gap to get into a Europa Cup spot.

The three points did not come without its pain for Everton as striker Saha left the field on a stretcher in the 86th minute after landing awkwardly when leaping for a header.

Despite the late drama with the visitors piling forward in search of an equaliser, the game overall was a disappointing battle, with Baines providing the only bright moments from the left flank in the opening half-hour.

Fulham defender Chris Baird looked increasingly uncomfortable as he tried to contain Baines and on 27 minutes the Toffees defender's left foot created an opener but Saha wasted a headed chance from an inswinging corner.

Despite beginning the weekend sharing the second best away defence record in the league with Chelsea, the impressive Brede Hangeland and his Fulham team-mates were gradually showing signs of vulnerability facing Moyes' lively frontline.

And 10 minutes before the break, the deadlock was broken. And not surprisingly, the danger arrived from the left.

It was the boot of Osman, though, that caused the damage as his floated cross fell to Coleman, who cleverly steadied his feet before guiding the ball past keeper Mark Schwarzer.

Soon after the break the score was doubled and the mood of Hughes - who looked furious at the end of the first half - would have darkened somewhat as he witnessed the ineptitude of his defensive wall.

Jack Rodwell was felled by a clumsy tackle from Dickson Etuhu on the edge of the box and after Baines rolled the ball to Saha, the Frenchman blasted through Danny Murphy's legs for his seventh of the season.

Everton appeared to be strolling to victory, but on the hour they seemed to switch off and their sleepy defence was finally breached as Hughes' team burst into life.

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Fulham ran out of time - Hughes

Soon after keeper Tim Howard was sharp enough to smother successive shots by Damien Duff and Etuhu, the American keeper was soon picking the ball out of the net.

And it was his compatriot Dempsey who fired in a belter following a sweet move begun by Duff on the right, with striker Zamora providing the crucial pass with his first touch of the game.

It was an inspired substitution by Hughes and his team forced their opponents further back, much to the frustration of the increasingly irate Moyes on the sidelines.

A day after signing a new four-year deal, Jagielka came agonisingly close with a header from Osman's corner that was goalbound before Carlos Salcido nodded the danger away.

However, Fulham had the energy and desire to strive for the second goal and Zamora had a great chance to make the headlines in the dying minutes. His header six yards out was wasteful after a beautiful cross by Gael Kakuta and it proved to be his team's final opportunity.

Everton held on and survived to claim the spoils and help extend the celebrations of Moyes, who recently completed his ninth year in the Goodison Park hotseat.

Hughes, meanwhile, has plenty to think about. His team may be in a respectable 12th spot but are only three points from the drop zone.

89:42 Effort on goal by Clint Dempsey from just outside the penalty area goes harmlessly over the target.

86:01 Danny Murphy gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Louis Saha. Johnny Heitinga produces a shot on goal direct
from the free kick, blocked by Leon Osman. Shot from deep inside the area by Leon Osman goes over the bar.

11:00 Leighton Baines takes a shot from a long way out which goes wide of the right-hand upright.

9:14 Corner taken by Damien Duff played to the near post, clearance by Louis Saha. Damien Duff takes a outswinging corner to the
near post, Moussa Dembele gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Tim Howard. Free kick taken by Tim Howard.

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